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The Bloomsbury Handbook of Nature, Outdoor Learning and Wellbeing

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Nature, Outdoor Learning and Wellbeing cover

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Nature, Outdoor Learning and Wellbeing

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Pre-order. Available Nov 12 2026
$157.50 RRP $175.00 Website price saving $17.50 (10%)

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Description

This handbook takes an international, intergenerational, lifespan approach to address how being in nature and outdoor learning can contribute to wellbeing, with a focus on everyday spaces, equity, playful, creative, inclusive perspectives. Featuring 25 chapters written by academics and practitioners based in Canada, Finland, India, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, Slovenia, the UK and the USA the handbook covers six over-arching themes: Taking Notice; Connecting; Learning; Being Active; Giving and Slowing Down. The authors explore playful, nature-based activities and thinking that offer ways of learning about the outside world and understanding our place within it. Set against a backdrop of some of the most pressing problems facing us, including climate change, conflict, war, biodiversity loss and us etc., the chapters challenge the reader to find positive ways for humans to coexist more sustainably with each other and the 'more-than-human' world.

Table of Contents

[Draft TOC – Final version TBC]
Introduction, Mark Leather (University of St Mark and St John, UK), Tracy Ann Hayes (University of St Mark and St John, UK) and Denise Mitten (Prescott College, USA)
Part I: Taking Notice
1. Being with Disabled Children in Nature, Sarah Burton (The Open University, UK) and Katia Hueso-Kortekaas (Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Spain)
2. Children's Observation Skills in Nature as a Basis for Early Science Education, Gregor Torkar (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia)
3. Developing an Outdoor Community and Learning Space on a University Campus, Jenny Elliott, Kerryn Dixon and Elena Wood (The University of Nottingham, UK)
4. Journaling and Reflection for Wellbeing, Morten Asfeldt (University of Alberta, Canada), Jakob Thorsteinsson (University of Iceland, Iceland) and Tomas Aylward (Munster Technological University, Ireland)
Part II: Connecting
5. Forest School Connecting Children with Nature, Christine Shepherd (Staffordshire University, UK)
6. Virtual Rewilding: Engaging with Green Spaces through Minecraft, Adam Hart (University of Salford, UK) and Tracy Hayes (The University of St Mark and St John, UK)
7. Walking in Deep Time, Dylan Adams and Sean Harris (Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK)
8. Affording Flourishing Places for Play, Adventure and Nature Connection Across the Lifespan, Alun Morgan (University of Plymouth, UK) with international author
Part III: Learning
9. Little Learners, Growing in the Outdoors: Developing Scientific Questioning in Primary Science, Alison Murphy (Nottingham Trent University, UK) with international author
10. Critical Questions for Place-Based Educators in an Age of Mobility, Gavin Mackenzie (University of Cumbria, UK) with international author
11. Actor Training and Artistic Community Building on the Rame Peninsula, Natalie Raven (The University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, UK) with international author
12. Title TBC, Author(s) TA Loeffler, (Memorial University St. John's, Canada)
Part IV: Being Active
13. Title TBC, Author(s) TBC
14. Walking for Wellbeing, Robbie Nicol (Edinburgh University, UK) and Orla Kely (Dublin City University, Ireland)
15. The Use of Health Promotion Planning Models in Health & Wellbeing Interventions Based in the Outdoors, Author TBC
16. Ageing in Nature: Outdoor Learning as Lifelong Learning, Barbara Humberstone (Buckinghamshire New University, UK), Di Collins (Independent researcher, UK) and Geoff Cooper (Independent researcher, UK)
Part V: Giving
17. Connecting with Nature in High-Density High-Rise Housing Environments, Sruthi Atmakur–Javdekar (Architect and Landscape Architect, India)
18. Poetics of Place, Paul Moseley (University of Cumbria, UK) with international author
19. Making Relationship with Places, Land, and Nature, Jenny Archard (The University of St Mark and St John, UK) with international author
20. Title TBC, Author(s) TBC
Part VI: Slowing Down
21. Slowing Down to (Re)connect, Louise Hauxwell (University of Edinburgh, UK) and Zoe Lewis (Edge Hill University, UK)
22. A Pupil Referral Unit and A Forest School, Lucy Wenham (University of Bristol, UK) and Tom Ralph (The University of Exeter, UK)
23. Slowing Down: A Prescription for Dawdling? Tanja Liimatainen (Programme Manager at Metsäkartano, Finland)
24. Connecting to the Land and Nature, Mike Brown (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand) with international author Zabe McCreen
Conclusion, Mark Leather (University of St Mark and St John, UK), Tracy Ann Hayes (University of St Mark and St John, UK) and Denise Mitten (Prescott College, USA)
References
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Nov 12 2026
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 416
ISBN 9781350474635
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Bloomsbury Handbooks
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

Mark Leather

Anthology Editor

Tracy Ann Hayes

Anthology Editor

Denise Mitten

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